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Per Mertesacker admits Arsenal had to beat Southampton because pressure was on following Tuesday's Premier League results
- Arsenal beat Southampton at the Emirates on Wednesday night
- Alexis Sanchez scored an 89th-minute winner against the 10-man Saints
- Per Mertesacker believes it was needed following pressure from Tuesday
Per Mertesacker hailed an important response to Tuesday night's results after Arsenal's late winner against Southampton.
Alexis
Sanchez's 89th-minute goal saw off the 10-man Saints - depleted by Toby
Alderweireld's injury after they had used all of their substitutes -
and kept Arsenal in touch with the Premier League's top four.
Manchester
United, fifth-placed surprise package West Ham and under-performing
Liverpool all won on Tuesday, as did leading pair Chelsea and Manchester
City elsewhere on Wednesday.
The towering Per Mertesacker of Arsenal celebrates with Alexis Sanchez, who won the game for the Gunners
Arsenal beat Southampton after they were reduced to 10 men through injury with all three substitutions used
And Mertesacker told BT Sport:
'We needed that win desperately because everyone won yesterday so we
were a bit under pressure. We just kept going, we always believe in
ourselves.
'They were unlucky, they were one man down because of an injured player, but we deserved it because we kept going.'
The
win was Arsenal's third in succession, following those against Borussia
Dortmund and West Brom, and their German defender said: 'We want to
continue that run and be more consistent, especially in the Christmas
period. We have potential, everyone knows, but we have to show it.'
Southampton manager Ronald Koeman believed Alderweireld's injury left his side struggling at the crucial moment.
The win was Arsenal's third in a row after beating Borussia Dortmund and West Brom recently
Sanchez celebrates giving Arsenal an 89th-minute lead against Southampton on Wednesday night
'If you lose a match in the last few minutes, it's always frustrating,' he said.
'It
was a good reaction after last Saturday (losing 3-0 to Manchester
City), we had our chances but we were a bit unlucky with the injuries.
'After the third change, Alderweireld had a hamstring injury and then it was 11 against 10, and that made the difference.
'It's no points today but if we keep playing this way, no problem.'
Goalkeeper
Fraser Forster had kept Southampton on level terms with excellent saves
from Danny Welbeck and substitute Olivier Giroud in the second half.
And
Koeman said: 'Fraser had two or three great saves in the second half,
(the save from) the header of Giroud was amazing, but it was not
enough.'
Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster had kept Southampton on level terms with excellent saves
VIDEO Koeman unhappy with second half performance
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